Union fights Doug Ford’s return-to-office order for civil servants
The union representing the Ontario government’s professional employees is challenging Premier Doug Ford’s order that civil servants return to their offices five days a week in January, which it dubs “a plan to roll the public service back to the Stone Age.”
The union representing the Ontario government’s professional employees is challenging Premier Doug Ford’s order that civil servants return to their offices five days a week in January, which it dubs “a plan to roll the public service back to the Stone Age.”
Charging that the government violated the collective agreement with 16,500 members by not providing “the required advance notice of its plan to effectively end remote and hybrid work,” the Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario has filed a policy dispute.Â
“If the employer violates our contract, we’re going to take action over it,” AMAPCEO president Dave Bulmer said in a statement, accusing the province of ignoring provisions requiring two weeks’ notice of a decision involving changes in the workplace to the union before employees are notified.Â
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“We were blindsided,” he added. “The required two-week noticed period would have given us the opportunity to meet with the employer, share our concerns.”Â
The change was announced last month. Members of the Ontario public service are now required to work in their offices three days a week. That rises to four days on Oct. 20, the same day MPPs return for the fall sitting of the legislature after an extended 137-day summer break, and to five days on Jan. 5.Â
A spokeswoman for Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney said the government is “disappointed” with the union’s response, saying it distracts from efforts to return to a five-day standard now that COVID-19 is better controlled.Â
“During recent bargaining, and in its own ratification announcement, AMAPCEO acknowledged the employer’s discretion over in-office requirements, Liz Tuomi said in a statement maintaining “maximum notice” was provided.Â
Ford said Friday that about half of civil servants already work full-time in their offices, and that the government will make sure there are enough work stations for everyone.
“They’re going to come back and get in the swing of things.”
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Rob Ferguson is a É«É«À²-based reporter covering Ontario
politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: .
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